Can-filling apparatus.



W. J. PHELPS.

GAN FILLING APPARATUS..

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1B,

Patented May 7, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOR,

W. J. PHELPS.

CAN FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.18, 1910.

Patented May 7, 1912 3 SHEETS-SHEBT 2;

WITNEssEs.

F I l l Y. ATTORNEY W. J. PHELPS.

CAN FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION PILBDAUG. 1e, 1910.

Patented May 7, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3A ATTORNEY eers. r.

ossimoro# Speeoation of Letters lateut.

Patented May 4, i912.

Applieetion filed August 18, 191). ferie?. No. 577273 To all whom 5 may @noem f Be it liiowii that l, lfilALTeu ll. l

usure, e. citizen of the United Slet s. residuo et Bel-v tiniore. State of Maryleucl7l lieve invented e new and useful (imi-Filling Apparatus, of which the folloufiug u speeiieetiou.

This invention bas :reference to :improve ments iu machines ttor `iilliiig liquids into eens, and its object is to provide a. menus whereby the use oi" o large opening iu top ot tbe ceu to be atteri'mrd core" f by n. Cep soldered ou the heed of tlie een is avoided.

The present invention oontei'nplates the use of :i eau already completed aud sezilcui except that there is provided o eeiitrolly loated i'iliiug perforetiou iii one heed, ot the ceu and another perforation ueiir tbe iuuxrgin of tlie'ouu bead from which i" L Signed to Withdraw tbe oir from the erior of the eau to fi suilioiei'it extent to cause sub atmospheric pressure ufilbiii the cou Wliieli will cause zi. more rapid inflow of 'the liquid through the filling' opening thou would be 'tlie cose were gravity alone utilized.

Furthermore, when the attempt is mode to introduce o, liquid iu @een through o smell opening there remains ori the surfooe of the eau immediately surrounding; the opening e. drop or globule ot'y tbe. liquid 'which :is soon us tlie een oud. filling conduit ezids over the top of tbe preparatory to tbe sealing of the opening with solder.

lu carrying' out tbe present invention pio Vision is made for tbe production of sub` atmospheric pressure Within oud about tbe cans duiiiugilie fillingl operation except at tlie'filliug opening; oud its immediate vicioity, so that tbe air pressure on. the surface oitlie liquid ilowing into the @aus eugmeuts the :lotion of gravity whereby o, more rapid How of liq .id iiito the eau is Caused than would be the cese from gravity alone, and,

furthermore.. tbe iuruslroi: oir et the filling opening; iu. tlio eau u'lieu tbe contents of the reservoir of uu rial loesil to the can is eX- lieusted will cause the iudrsiwiug of tlie liq- 'uid wbicli otherwise would accumulate on top of tbe con about tbe inlet openinff.

One embodiment oi? tbe invention is illustrated. iii the accompanying drawings forming :i part of this specification, butI itwill'be uiiderstood tliotthe invention is by no means limited to tbe specific embodiment shown, siiiee the iureiitiou is susceptible of modilication iii zuouy details Without in any luaniier departing Jirom the salient features of the invention.

. lo the drawings re-'ligure l is en end ele- 'if'zitiou of maeliiue constructed. in accordouee rfitl the present invention. Fig. 2 is a, filou 'v u' of' tbe structure of Fig. l. Fig. 3, is :i trout 'to reir vertical section through the l? l i,J o. pieu 'View oi tbe carrier for the omis' .showing o. troy full of eens in place thereon, with tbe guiding members for the een carrier sliowu iu cross section, the scale being tbe saisie F l l:ind Figs'. 5 oud G ere detail seetionssliou'iug different phases iu the operation of tbe can Carrier and measuring cups. Figs. and 8 ere detail sections showing di'li'erent phases of operation with :i settling gasket of dierent structure tluinsliowi'i in Figs. 5 and G. Fig. 9 is o. persiiieetire View of e capacity reducer -tor the uieesluiug cups. Y

Referring to the drawings there is shown o support mode of four legs l, preferably of structurel steel of :ingle type, and tliese legs A are bolted to the corners of a rectangular frame 2 wliieli uuiy iiiso be mede of angle- -tirely across the easing, vul-riebY in the particular shoving of the drawings, is rectangular 1u general shape. 'llieeasmg 3 is .formed neer tbe other or upper end with e.

web or diaphragm 5 constitutingv an inset top or @over ier tbe casing, the lside Walls of' tlieoeeiiig extending zbove this cover metri-, s ber 5 es slioiyii fut 'The top or eovem member 5 is formed with series of passages 7 with peripheral flanges 8 9 on the respective upperand lower faces of the top member, the passages 7 being thereby elongated, and in these passages are secured the upper ends of measuring cups l0 each open at the said upper end and having a contracted bottom portion 11 formed with a semi-spherical end 12, the bottom of the cups extending through appropriate pasin thebottom member 4 in air tight relation thereto either by soldering or otherwise. The semi-spherical end l2 of each cup is formed with a passage 13 through which there extends a stem 14 carrying within the end 12 of the cup a valve 15 which, in the particular showing of the drawings, is a ball valve. rl`l1e other end ot' the stem 14 is Continued alongside the outer wall ot' the end member 12 of the cup, and is secured thereto by solder or otherwise, the construction being such that this stem 14 has a normal tendency to hold the valve 15 in closing relation to the passage 13, but yieldable to a suitable force exerted to move the stem into the cup to an extent to "arry the valve l5 away from the opening 13, thus unclosing it.

Formed on the lower face of the bottom member 4 in spaced concentric relation to each cup end 12 is a tiange 16, and surrounding each cup end 12 between the same and the tlange 16 is a tubular gasket 17 preferably made ot soft rubber and of such length that its lower end is substantially coincident with the lowermost extension of the valve stem 14. Applied to the flange 1G exterior thereto and in concentric relation to the gasket 17 is another tubular gasket; 18, also made of soit rubber, and having its lower end extending beyond the lo er end ot the gasket 17 ior a purpose which will presently' appear. Extending through the tlange 1G and adjacent portion of the bottom member 4 ol the casing are passages 19 placing the chamber between the outer wall of the gasket 1T and the inner wall of the gasket' 18 in constant communication with the space above the bottom member 4. Inset for a short distance from rthe outer edge ol? the casing and extending downward from the bottom plate 4 is a vflange 20, and secured to the bottom of the casing El between the flange 20 and the outer v edge of the casingis a gasket 21 preferably ot soft rubber, and the relation of the gaskcts 1T and 1S to the gasket 21 is such that the lower ends of both of the gaskets 17 and Vlo extend normally to a greater distance'bclow the lower tace of the bottom 4 than does the corresponding portion of the gasket 21.

The casing 3 is provided with ain ott' set is depressed with relation to the top member -5 and may be in part supported by brackets 22 formed on or secured to the appropriate angle members of the trame carrying the casing Adapted to the reservoir 3 is a displacement member ot such size that when the reservoir contains a sulticient quantity of liquid the lowering ot the displacement member 23 will cause a rise in level ot the liquid within the reservoir which will result in the liquid o\ferllowing the dcpresse'd top member 5 to an extent to flood the cups 10, lilling'the latter with the liquid. lVhen the displacement member 23 is raised, the liquid not lodged in the cups will liow back into the reservoir, the cups remaining brimful since the liquid may not escape from the cups because the valves 15 are closed under the particular conditions assumed. The reservoir 3 may be replenished with liquid as needed through a pipe 24 including a suitable valve 25 and coming from an appropriately large source ot' liquid supply.

The present invention is well adapted tor filling cans with liquids of various kinds, and is particularly well adapted for lilling cans with evaporated milk, the machine having been designed for this purpose. lt will be understood, however, that the use of the machine is by no means limited (o the canning of evaporatedV milk, and while for convenience of description the liquid to be canned will hereinafter be referred to as milk, this does not preclude the use ot' the machine for canning any material for which it may be adapted.

There is great economy in canning milk in using cans wherein the only ol'icnings to the interior ot the can when ready for the recept ion ol' tho milk are in the iorm ot' two small perlorations which may be punched in the can at the time the head is formed, so that not only is the likelihood ot thc cntrance o't' dirt into the can minimized. but the sealing oft the can is greatly facilitated, while the expense oi sealing greatly rcduced, the danger ot improper sealing being almost, if not entirely eliminated. (hie ot the perforations in the head ot' the ran/is preferably made central and constitutes thc filling perforation. The other perforation is placed near the margin oi" the head ot' tho can and constitutes the exhaust. perforation for air v. ithin the can.

The machine is provided with u can carrirr 26 o'l' sullicicnt extent to move 'freely yet comparatively snugly in the space dcl'incd by the angle legs l. This carrier 2o has a depressed portion 27 adapted to rcccive a tray 2H ot a size to snugly, yetl i' eely`r receive a predetermined number of `cans 29, each "formed with a central perforation 5&0, and another pcrtoration 31 between the central perforation and the margin ot` llt) ends of converging arms 34 united at their meeting ends to'a bar 35 connected atA thex the can, but usuallyquite near the margin.

lThe relation between the cans and cups 10 is such that when the'tray 28'is placed upon the carrier 26 andpsitioned thereon by the depressed portion 27 of the carrier, the per- `iterations3() will be below the gaskets 1:7 in

the cans when in place therein, the tray. being of suchsize that the side walls will' engage theA gasket 21 wlienvtlie tray is elevated, and these side walls have their upper edges 33 preferably rounded, so that theyl may engage and sink in theffgasket 21 with-y out `damage to the latter, while at the same time providing an extended scaling surface betweenv the edges 33 and the gasket 21.v

The carrier 26 is upheld by the divergent lower end by a pivot bolt .364 or'otherwise to one arin of a treadle 37 having a pivot connection 38.1;0 appropriate legs 1 this treadle extending to that side of. the machine remote lfrom the reservoir l21 and there provided with a foot member 39 within reachl of an operator. e y iilrected -on opposit`e`sides of the upper end Aofthe casing 3 are brackets40 formed with journals for the-ends of a pivot shaft L-1 ita-sten which is a lever 42"pivotally con- .iiected at one' end to ears 43 on thedisplacenient member 23, and at the other end piv otally connected to one ,end of'a link 44 con tinued to the outer end of tbe.treadle37, as indicated 45. Since the carrier 26 will more up and down in a straight line whiley the treadle 37 liastlie end connected to the carrier moving iii""an` are because of the p ivoted support 38 tli`e\pivotj bolt 36 is passed through aslot 46 "formed in Athe corresponding end of the treadle. Leading into the casing 3 and extending through the bottom 4 is a pipe 47 which is assumed to be connected to" any suitable air exhausting means capable of producing the' desired sub' atmospheric pressure. i

Reference has been `made to the cups 10 as measuring cups, and these cups are designed to each contain a quantity of milk.

which will fill a cori-'espondiiigcan 29 to within about one-eighthor three-sixteenths of :In inch from the top of the can.. If it be desirable to'fill smaller cans, the work ing capacity of each cup may be reduced by y inserting therein a reducing sleeve 48.

shown separately in Fig. 9 'and indicated in dotted lines in the left hand cup of Fig.

illie normaltendencyof the carrier 26=is to move to the lower limit of itstravel under the action of gravity, the inner end of the .treadle 27 moving downward and theouter end upward, this movement being trans- The tray 28 is provided `with,

. While mitted by the link 44 to the lever 42 causing a downward movement of tlie displacing member 23 inthe reservoir 3, the weight of this displacing member aiding in the movement thereof into the milk assumed to be present in thereservoii With the the reservo-ir has been. caused to flow there* from over the top member 5 of the casing 3 to a depth sufficient to overfiow into the cups A10, filling the latter to the brim and while the `carrier 2G is in the lowermost position, a tray 2S witli cans 29 therein is 'plaed on the carrier in the depression 27,

being shoved on to the carrier as far the length of the depression permits, the cans within the tray being then positioned immediately beneath the corresponding outlet .ends of the. cups.

y The'operator now depresses the end 39 of the treadle 37, thus raising the carrier 2G and with itftlie tray 28, and the cans 29 thei'eon, this movement of the treadle caus- ,ing a rocking oi' the leverf42iii a direction `to raise the displacing member 23 from the reservoir. 3a and the lowering level of the inilk within'tljie reservoir causes the flowing Aparts iii this last named position the milk iii.

of any milktwhicli may remain on the sur face of the top 5 back into the reservoir 3a.

''lhe upward movement or the vcarrier 26 'ultimately brings the upper edges of the,

side walls oi the tray28-into engagement witht-he gasket. 21 and before. the upward movement ceases, the edges 83 of the side walls of the tray have become embedded in the gasket, this position being eiiewn iii "Figa 6. The web or diaphragm 4 therefore constitutes a cover member for the tray or can container-'28 when the weils oit-the latter engage the f gasket or sealing member 21. As the cans are raised they are brought into engagement with the gaskets' 18 and the latter are compressed, and then the cane reach the gasket-s 17 and compress the latter suiiiciently to produce air-tight joints'. Byj the time the gaskets 17 are properly seated .against the tops of the cans the. valves '15 arefullyl open. y i

the operations just described lpive been taking place, the exhausting apparatus is withdrawing `air through the pipa 4i'y so thatfas soon as the edges 33 of the side walls of the tray are brought into engagement with the gasket 21 to an extent suiiicient to seal 4these edges, the air within the chaiiihcr formed by the bottom -4 oi' the casing 3 and the tray 28, is exhausting through the pipe '47, so that' sub-atmospheric pressure is estab lished in this chamber. @gli the cans 29 are inclosedfin the same chamber, and are subjected to the same subatniosplieric pressure, the air within the cans escaping through the openings 31 intothe chamber to ultimately pass out through the pipe 47. This arrange .aient-permits of a much nearer app. iacb to llt a, vacuum than though -the outer Walls of the cans were at all times under atmospheric pressure. Since the valves 15 are now open vthe perloi'ations 2S l, the increased flow being due to the action ot atn'iospheric pressure on the milk exposed at the tops of the cups 1()7 whichl are there open to the atlnospllere, the fiow ot' milk being commensurate with the action of gravity as augmented by the air pressure due to the sub-atmospheric pressure within the cans. Ultimately the con tents ot' the cups are all directed into the. respective cans, and the operator is apprised ofihis fact h v the noise made b v the inrush of air. As thel carrier is again lowered, the valves 15 close and the gaskets 17 leave the tops of the cans and air at atmospheric pressure flows under the lower edgeofi each gasket. 17 to the opening 30 of the respective can carrying with it any milk remaining on top of the can to the interior thereof, thus leaving the can top and perforation 30 clean. Then the top edges ot' the tra)Y will pull away from the. gasket 21 and the cans leave the 1S and atmosiiheric pressure is quickly produced within the cans, each of which still has a shallow air space above the milk, by the inrush of air through the openings in the tops of the can. then the 'carrier has reached its lowermost position,

the tray with the filled .ans mav be removed and another tray containing empty cans may' be placed on the carrier, and the operation may be. iftmeated.y the reservoir 3 having `in the meantime been replenished with milk by a proper manipulation of the valve so that when the iliilunger or displacing member 2?, is again lowered into the reservoir7 there a sutlicient quantity of milk therein to once more. flood the portion of the casing above the depres'ed top momber 5 and fill all the cups 10, the several Vvalves l5 having been moved to the closed position by the resilicnc)7 of the valve stems lil.

Instead of using ay solid gasket like the gasket, 21 of. Figs. '1, 5l, 5 and 6, a tubular gasket A'l-) shown in Figs. 7 and 8 may be,

employed l To aceounnodate this gasket the flange 2O is replaced lo7 tivo deiendine' .J i. 1 t parallel wings o0 ot a size to receive and retain the tubular gasket L19, and this gasket will collapse when the edge of the side walls of. the tray engage it. the collapsed position being shown in Fig. S, and this will Ylorm a-'t'urther seal for the chamber eomposed of the bottom "ft of the easing 3 and the tray 2S, such seal being practically resist-ant t0 any reduction of pressure which may be utilized in the operation of the machine.

1. An amiaratus for filling liquid into cans each having a filling opening in one end and another opening in the same end spaced from the filling opening comprising a elosure for the cans having means 'for .se-lling the closure against the entrance of any an air exhaust conduitcommunicating with said closure, and liquid supply means having 'an engaging members individual to the cans for` directing liquid thereto, said can engaging members being each provided at the can engaging end with air sealing means in active engagement with the can about the filling` openi'r" to the exclusion of the other opening whit;- the filling operation is progressmg.-

2. 1n anapparatus for filling liquid into cans each having a filling opening in one end and another openingI in the same end spaced from vthe filling openingJ a closure for the Cans havin@ means for sealing it against. the entrance ot air, an air exhaust conduit communicating with said closure, means for placing the cans individually in communication with a source of liquid supply means for sealing the means communicating with the liquid supply against the action of the exhaust means except through the cans individual thereto, and means other than the liquid supply means for admitting air to the cans atI the liquid inlets thereof to the exclusion of the admission of? air at the out.- lets of said cans.

3. ln an apparatus for filling liquid into cans each having a filling opening in one end and another opening in the same end spaced 'from the filling openin'j` container for the cans, means for s'ea'z'rf container against admission of? 'air except. through the cans, an exhaust conduit eomn'iunicating with said container means for directing liq uid into the cans. and means other than the liquid directing means for directing air at a greater pressure than the pressure maintained within the"cmitainer during the filling (qieration to the filling openings only ot the cans. i

4. Tn an apparatus for filling liquid into cans each having a filling opening in one end and another opening in the same en d spaced from the filling opening, a container for the cans'to be filled, means for sealing the connaamw l". l liquid, a source ot liquid lsupjgflty for each can, container 'for the cans mouible to bring cach can into ooerative relation to its source ot liquid supply, means tor sealing the can container against the ci rance olf air, means other than the liquid 'supply means` tor directing air to each can, and an air exhaust conduit in tmerative relation to the can container when the latter is in the sealed position.

6. ln an apparatus for tilting cans with liquid, a container tor the cans to be tilled, means individual to each can 'tor sujriqylying the same with a'predetermined quantity ot liquid, a sealing;` means ply means individual `to each can 'tor engaging the can adj aceni said individual sup ply means, means for sealing the container against the entrance or". air.y and an air, er haust conduitin operative relation to the can container for proe'luciug subatmospl'ieric pressure within said container while in the sealed condition.

T. ln an apparatus tor filling; cans with liquid, a plurality uit onen ended pendently i 1anged measuring cups cach provided at the lower end with a valve. a container for the cans to be iilled movable to and 'trom the valved ends ot the cups, meansI :tor sealing' the container against the entrance oi' air, means for scaling the valved end ot each cup in operative relation to a, respective can, and means tor directingair at atmospheric pressure between the last named sealing means and the resliective can when the sealing connection between the last named sca-ling.

.V .n'ieans and thc-can iu'olrenA S. ln an apn-ar; us tor litlr r cans 'with liquid, a c i s to be filled, means indii'f'nlual to cach van tor directing liquid to the fillingJ opening et the reepective can. means tor scalino the container a whole against the ent ancrut air at atmospheric j'n'eseuro, mem tor sealin the liquid. directing means ct nach can against conunu nication with the vinterior of the can container except througl'; l., c can.r and meer establidhing an chaumer within the i tainer about each liquid directing),` menu.` y said cliamben "icing in coinnuuication with the atmosphere.

9. ln apparatus tor .liliinfg cans,a ot liquid containers, sealin u coruluits one iior each liquid container, a can container ot a capacity to hold as maar cans as there are liquid containers, said can container, beine; inovable to and trom the liquid containei'rl, means Afor sealing the t j, cont-aiuer when in aealinr relation 'to the liquid containers, and an 'exhaust air conduit in ci'inimunicating relation iviti the can container when the series outlet A memcarried b v the sunber constitutinfj a cover lmember for the container, "liquid receptacles extending through the cover member, a sealing con-` duit at the discharge end ot each liqu'idyreceptaclc where projecting tl'irough the cover member, sealing means for the can container carried by the cover member and adapted to torm a closure for the can container in conjunctionV with. the cover member, means .whereby air may be exhausted from the can container when in sealed relation to the cover member, and means for the admission oi liquid to the cans when the can container is in the sealed condition. 4

il. in apparat-us Jfor lilling liquid into cans each provided with an inlet and outlet perforation, av container tor the cans, a meub ber constituting a cover member 'for the container, liquid receptacles extending through the'cover member, a sealing; conduit at the discharge end of each liquid 'receptacle Where projecting through thecover member, sealing means for .the can container can ried by' the cover member and adapted to ',torm a closure for the can Acontainer in conjunction with the cover member, means whereby air may be exhausted from the can container when in sealed relation to the cover member, means for the admission of liquid to the cans when the can container is yin the sealed. condition, and means for the admisison of air to the inlet opening of each` can While sub-atmospheric conditions are maintained Within the can container.

12. ln an apparatus for lilling canswith liquid, a series o pendently disposed liquid containers each provided with a valved outlet, an elastic conduit extending beyond the outlet ot each container, an elastic member surrounding and extendingbeyond the elastici-conduit, a container for the cans to be llled, a, ycover member therefor through which the valved ends of the liquid containers extend, said conduilt having means tor maintaining the interior ot the elastic members surrounailingl the elastic conduits incommunication with the atmosphere, means tor sealing the can containerA againstthe admission ot air when in sealing relation to the elastic members and elastic conduits, and means whereby sub-atmosperic pressure may be established Within the can container.

12%. ln an apparatus for filling cans With liquid, a series ot containers each provided with a valved outlet, an elastic conduit extending beyond the outlety oiieacb container, an elastic member surroundimg` and extending beyond the elastic conduit, .a container' for the cans 'to be tilled, which the valved ends of the liquid containcrs entend, sftid conduit having means forn1aintaining,n interior of' the elastic members su iuntiingg the elastic conduits in communication with. the atmosphere.. means 'pendently disposed liquidv a. cover member therefor through for sealing the can container against the admission yof air when in sealing relation to the elastic members and elastic conduits, and means whereby sub-atmospheric pressure may be established withinthe can container, the elast-ic members and elastic conduits being proportioned to engage in the order named cans moved toward them and to yield to such movement ot' the cans to cause the sealing connection with the cans and. to then cause opening of the valved ends of the liquid containers.

14:, In an apparatus for filling canswith liquid, a series of stationary liquid containers each having a valved discharge end, an elastic conduit at the discharge end of each liquid container, an elastic gasket surround ing and in spaced relation to the elastic conduit and projecting beyond the discharge end thereof, a cover member through which the valved ends otr the coi'itainers extend and carrying the elastic gaskets, an elastic sealing means carried bythe cover member at the edge thereof, and a can container movable to and from the cover member with the walls of the container engaging the sealing means of the cover member when moved toward the latter.

15. In an apparatus for filling cans with liquid, a liquid reservoir, a series of liquid receiving cups each having a valve at its discharge end and in 'pendent relation to the reservoir, Jgneans for causing the filling of the cups with liquid from the reservoir, a

container for cans, a carrier for the container operable to move the container to and from the valvedends of the cups, a treadle connected to the carrier for moving the carrier at will, means controlled by the treadle for causii'ig the lflow of liquid to the cups, a cover member for the can container in fixed relation to the valved ends of the cups and through which the said ends of the cups4 extend beyond the carrier, an elastic gasket surrounding the. discharge end oli each cup, another elastic gasket surrounding and spaced troni each of the first named gaskets and extended to a greater degree toward the carrier, the interior of the last named gaskets being each in comn'nmication with the atmosphere, a sealing member carried by the cover member in the path of the edges of the walls of the can container when moved toward the cover member, and an exhaust air conduit extending through the cover member for the production ot subatmospheric pressure within the can con tainer when its walls are in Sealing relation to the sealing means ot the cover and cans Within the container are in operative relation to the gaskets on the cover member.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

\ WALTER J. PHELPS.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, Lnwis EBERLY. 

